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J. F. MUNSIB.

GONDUIT POB, ELECTRIC GONDUGTORS.

,324. Patented June 22 (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. MUNSIE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF FIVE-IWVELFTHS TO I-IORATIO N. MAY, OF SAME PLACE.

CONDUIT FOR ELECTRIC CONDUCTORS.

.LJECIEICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 344,324, dated June 22, 1886.

Application led February 25, 1886. Serial No. 193,136. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown the means which I Be it known that I, JAMES F. MUNSIE, a preferably employ for securing the sections British subject, residing at Chicago, in the of my conduittogether when the same are concounty of Cook and State of Illinois, have instruct-.ed of cast-iron. i vented certain new and useful Improvements The main portion of the conduit preferably 55 in Conduits for Electric Conductors, of which having substantially an oval configuration, is the following is a full, clear, and exact deprovided withalongitudinal slot or continuscription, reference being had to the accomous opening, a, through which the wires or panyiug drawings, and to the letters of refercables to be laid are introduced to the interior IO ence marked thereon, which form a part of thereof, said slot or opening being formed by 6o this specification. the projecting or extended portions aa, as

My invention has for its object to provide shown. Intermediate the outer extremities a receptacle or conduit within which teleof said extended portions a c and the interior phone, telegraph, or other electric wires or Aof the conduit, one of said portions disprocables may be readily laid, and eiiectively revided with a longitudinally-continuous lateral 65 tained in operative position above or below projection or lip, b, which extends athwart or upon the ground-level of streets or elsesaid slot a' into a corresponding longitudiwhere, as may be desirable or necessary to nally-continuous groove or recess, b', formed meet the varying requirements and contin in the face ofthe opposite extended portion 2o gencies which present themselvesin operating a, said last-mentioned portion being likewise 7o an electric system for any purpose in contraprovided with a longitudinally continuous distinction to the employment of aerial wires, lateral projection or lip, b2, which is extended to such end, as will further appear, consisting across said slot below and in a direction conk in the matters hereinafter set forth, and pointverse to the lip b, the whole being so arranged ed out in the appended claims. as to fo'rm an irregular passage from the ex- 75 To comprehensivelyillustrate my invention, terior to the interior of the conduit, through I have shown in Figure l of the accompanywhich wires or cables can be readily passed ing drawings a perspective view of my conin laying the same, but effectually preventing duit, which, as a matter of preference, I contheir being interrupted or tampered with struct of castiron, but which may be comthereafter. 30 posed of any suitable material. In Fig. 2 is In the upper portion of the slot a', I employ shown in transverse section the conduit cona closing bar, G, of any suitable material, taining electric wires E, laid in contiguity which is securely driven or fixed between the with the curbstone or outer edge of' the sideportions a a, said bar and the immediately walk, the wire entering portion of the conduit contiguous surfaces of the conduit being coat- 85 projecting above the plane of the street-paved with some bituminous or other suitable ing D. ln Fig. 3 is shown in transverse secsubstance, d, for securely sealing the conduit tion the conduit containing electric wires E, against the action of air, moisture, or water, laid in the center or other portion of the street, which might otherwise enter therein through 4C with its wire entering portion extending to said slot. As an additional precautionary 9o the level or plane of the street-paving D. In measure in this regard, I also locate within Fig. 4 is substantially shown the construction said slot a', below said closing-bar Cr, a call;- which I employ at the intersection of streets ing-rope, g, or equivalent device or material, or elsewhere for carrying wires or cables which I coat with tar or other suitable subin a direction or directions divergent from stance. 95 the main line of conduit or from the At such points as it may become necessary line upon which the same is primarily laid. to run main diverging or connecting or aux- In Fig. 5 is shown a vertical central section iliary wires or cables into buildings, or at au of the construction illustrated in said Fig. 4, angle at street intersections or elsewhere, or

" 5o the same being taken on the line x thereof. where itmay be desirable to locate points, for icc the purposes of this specification, termed stations,7 from, through, or at which the wiresk or cables contained within the conduit can be readily reached for the purpose of testing or'repairing the same, or for the purpose of connecting and laying additional wires or cables, a section of the conduit constructed substantially as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is employed, said section being provided with a suitable number of diverging members or branches, and with a circular opening, F, to which is snugly fitted a cap, G', provided with devices for locking or fixing the same in position. The slot a being extended into the circular opening F, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, the cap G overlaps the same for a sufficient distance, and is provided on its lower face with two or more downwardlyprojecting L- shaped lugs f', which, passing through -said slot or slots as it is placed in position to engage with the under surface of the rim fof the circular opening F as said cap is turned upon its seat, thereby locking it securely enough in position for all practical purposes. Other locking devices, however, not deemed necessary to be shown herewith, may be employed for further securing said cap in position, if desired.

To connectedly arrange the sections of my conduit, when composed of cast-iron, the ends of each section form beveled seats a, to which is rigidly adjusted a wrought-iron str ap, H, having a configuration similar to that of the conduit, of which it practically becomes a part, said strap being expanded by heating and shrunk upon said seats a2. The conduit being located in position, wires or cables to be laid therein are entered through the slot a into the interior A thereof, being likewise entered through said slot into the station or opening F, from which they may be entered and extended into and through the main line of conduit beyond said station or opening, or in any desirable direction into and through a diverging member or branch thereof, the calking-rope g, if employed, and the closing-bar G being afterward inserted in said slot, and the cap or cover to the opening F being located in position.

To lay additional wires for repairing orother purposes within the conduit after the same has been closed, it becomes necessary only to remove the calking-rope, if employed, the closing-bar G, and the cover or cap to the station or opening F.

To remove a defective wire or cable or section thereof from the conduit, the wire or cable, being severed or free at two points, is drawn through one of the stations F.

While I have shown and described the opening F to the station-section of circular form, with the cap or cover G adapted to the configuration thereof and provided with special devices for locking the same in position, I wish to be distinctly understood as not limiting myself to any particular form of opening, F, or to any special arrangement of devices for locking the same in position, it being only essential that said opening into which is extended, for the purpose hereinbefore set forth, the longitudinal slot through which the wires are en tered to the conduit, shall be of such form as will admit of access therethrough to the wires contained within said station, and that said opening shall be provided with a suitable cap or cover for securely closing the same.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A conduit for electric wires or cables, provided with an irregularly-shaped longitudinal slot, a', through which the wires or cables are entered to the interior of said conduit, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with a conduit for electric wires or cables, provided with a longitudinal slot or opening, through which the wires or cables are introduced to the interior thereof, of a calking-rope, g, and a closing-bar, G, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with aconduit for electric wires or cables, provided with a longitudinal slot or opening, through which the wires or cables are introduced to the interior thereof, of one or more sections or stations,

each provided wlth an openlng, F, luto which said slot is extended, and a cap, G', provided with devices for securing the same in position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination, with a conduit for elec- 10o tric wires or cables, of the means for securing the sections` thereof together, consisting of suitable seats, a2, formed on the jointing ends of said sections, and the strap H applied thereto, substantially as and for the purpose de- [o5y scribed.

. JAMES F. MUN SIE. Witnesses: v

GEO. LEVIN, MAssY GEDDEs. 

